UK Visa Settlement Processing Time

settlement/fiance

The exceptional case email is pretty unusual though and it is not often sent out as far as I am aware... usually only the 'your documents have been received' and 'your visa has been processed' emails are sent out.

In Donajamin's case, ... he was lucky that they actually requested the extra documentation, because they could have just refused the application right away based on insufficient evidence provided...

Two rather nice moves from the Bureau lately. Is this the face of kinder, gentler immigration? (For my sake, I hope so! )

1,349 and i figured from the email they sent on the 25 th 15 working days is june 16th

You really don't need to be concerned then, settlement visa applications with priority all have a 15 working day processing time.  Nothing to worry about!

Hi all,

Here are the details of my application, and the confusion that has ensued!

Unmarried partner visa, NY office, priority service
Online application:~ April 16
Biometrics in Memphis, TN: April 30
Application sent: May 3
Confirmation received: May 4
Apparent date of refusal: May 11
Notification of refusal: May 16
Package returned: May 17
Appeal sent:  May 31
Notification of receipt of appeal: June 7

Between May 4th and May 16th, the Consulate tried to reach me 6 times to confirm a US address to send my application. Now, I dont understand why they were trying to confirm a US address as it was listed on the application several times.  They tried to reach me three times by phone.  No message was left and the number on the caller ID was the general Consulate number.  And they tried to contact me 3 times by email.  The first 2 emails were signed by someone, but did not give an email address to send my info to, so I responded to the email.  Apparently these emails were not received. The third email was not signed, but actually had an email address and a fax number listed in the text of the email to send my information.  That email was sent on the morning of May 16th. Within 2 hours of my response, I had received the notice that my visa had been refused.  The next day I got the package in the mail which showed that my visa was actually refused on May 11.  I thought it was all very odd! I was unable to return 5 out of 6 contact attempts from the consulate, and my US address was on my application. 

Text of first 2 emails:
Dear ...,

Please confirm a US based address so we can return your passport & application.

We cannot use a UK based address & need an American address to continue processing this application.

Quote VAF ... when doing so.

Sincerely,
....
UKBA

CONFUSED!  The only thing I can figure is that somehow my partner's UK address was switched with my US address.
Anyway - its been appealed.  We sent that in May 31, and it was acknowledged today (June 7). I will keep yall posted on how things progress!

Stacy

Just accepted today!  Here is my timeline (non-priority/Spouse Settlement):

Application submitted online - May 10
Biometrics - May 18
Notified Package Received - May 23
UKBA Requested Additional Info - May 27
UKBA Received Additional Info - Jun 1
Visa Issued - Jun 8

Maybe they do this for all packages received, but the UPS tracking label was created on May 23rd, so I guess it was just a formality that they receive the missing documents. So happy it took this short of time as we plan on moving in early July.  Good luck everyone!

Congratulations Donjamin! That was FAST!

I wonder if your travel time made it go faster...since you put early July. If you had put August (like me for example ) I wonder if they would have taken more time. 'Tis a mystery how all this works.


But it's always great to hear of an approval! Wheeeee!

Thanks a bunch Nicole! Hopefully you'll hear soon.  Now on to the difficult part of selling furniture, cars and renting the house! ARGH!

okaaaay so i just got a notification letter from the NY office saying that my case has been identified as an exceptional case (we were previously refused FLRM based on confusion over the terms of my visitor's visa) and it may take up to 15 days processing.  Anyone else have a letter like this? How long until a decision was actually made? I swear i'm completely losing my mind over this whole process!!

I did and I'm still waiting fiance visa , my 15 days is june 16 th  . does every one with a fiance visa  .. the fiance get a call over in the Uk  to confirm that they really do know the  intended ? get questioned ?  Just inquiring  .. this way he'll know before me if they r working on it , as I have seen others say they have gotten calls . And could a delay  in processing be because of the biometrics problem they had ? Thanks for the information

Wow, am I the only one who hasn't heard anything at all?  As of this morning they haven't even contacted my husband in the UK, nor his or my current US employer.  Which means I'm just sitting on a pile somewhere.

I'm getting really worried here - especially since I didn't realize there was a priority service for settlement visas!  (I'm kicking myself over missing that one!).  My intended date to leave the US was May 24th, but I'm still stuck here.

Here's my timeline:
submitted application: April 18th
biometrics: April 29th
email saying my application was received: May 3rd

and nothing at all since then.   

Right now it says the avg time is 34 working days, which doesn't include weekends or holidays. I assume this goes from the day they email a confirmation of receipt.

They rcd mine on May 9 and I haven't heard anything since then.

Right now it says the avg time is 34 working days, which doesn't include weekends or holidays. I assume this goes from the day they email a confirmation of receipt.

Yeah, if you take May 3rd as the starting date for the countdown, then you're currently only on day 25.

Looking at the processing times for April 2011, only 66% of settlement applications were approved within 15 working days, with 97% in 30 working days. However, it can take up to 90 working days in total (99% were done in 60 working days and 100% in 90 working days for April 2011) and you can't make a complaint unless you haven't heard anything until the target processing time has passed (which I think is either 50 working days or 12 weeks).

Thanks, everyone.  I guess I still have some time to go.

I wish I had discovered this forum before I had applied! 

I got my visa today (original refusal overturned)!  (they must have been in a good mood)

Here is my entire timeline:

Unmarried partner visa, NY office, priority service
Online application:~ April 16
Biometrics in Memphis, TN: April 30
Application sent: May 3
Confirmation received: May 4
Apparent date of refusal: May 11
Notification of refusal: May 16
Package returned: May 17
Appeal sent:  May 31
Notification of receipt of appeal: June 7
Visa issued: June 8

   Woot Woot!  Now I just have to send my passport back and get the actual visa put in it.

Thanks to everyone on the board for posting so much info.  It has been helpful and encouraging.  And best of luck to everyone still waiting!

Stacy

Stacey -

If I can ask, what were the specific reasons for your refusal? I've looked at some of your old posts but I'm not too clear. Was it just proving you were together?